Australia Warns Skilled Migrants Against Exploiters

Released on = October 5, 2006, 5:28 am

Press Release Author = Neoli Marcos

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = The Australian government warns skilled migrants againstrecruiters who charge for finding them employment in Australia. This is in light ofrecent cases where some Chinese overseas workers were blatantly charged from up to$27,000.

Press Release Body = Hawthorn, Australia, 5 October 2006 --- The Australiangovernment warns skilled migrants against recruiters who charge for finding thememployment in Australia. This is in light of recent cases where some Chineseoverseas workers were blatantly charged from up to $27,000.

Australia\'s chronic skills shortage has found an reliable antidote through thetemporary skilled migrant visa, also known as the 457 Visa. From 2005-06, therewere more than 39,000 457 visas granted, up from 27,000 the year before. TheAustralian government has also opened more than 100,000 slots to be filled byskilled migrants. Australia is now the mecca for skilled workers from all over theworld.

Under the provisions of the Skilled Migration Program, if an Australian companycannot fill a position with a suitable Australian worker to be trained, it has theoption to bring in migrants who can provide the specialist skills it needs. It isthe responsibility, therefore, of Australian employers to sponsor the skilledmigrants they are hiring. Some middleman recruiters though exploit clueless skilledmigrants by charging them thousands of dollars, including air fare.

This scenario would have been prevented if migrants coming into Australia wereadequately informed about their visa conditions. Which is one more reason why theAustralian government is tightening its policies regarding English-speakingcapabilities of its skilled migrants. If migrants know their way around through theEnglish language, then they would be less prone to being victimized by unscrupulousrecruiters.

On the other hand, Australian companies have to watch out, too, to for illegalworkers that they may have unknowingly employed. Besides depriving Australiancitizens of the right to decent employment, Australian employers of illegal workersalso risk their company's reputation. As such, they should be careful in checkingout visa conditions of the skilled migrants they are employing.